Glasgow-based architectural practice, Nord, has been appointed to design the new Maggie’s Centre in the grounds of the Forth Valley Royal Hospital.
The site of the new facility is set within mature woodland and was previously occupied by the Royal Scottish National Hospital, with 70 acres of mixed tree woodland and an ornamental loch. The extensive pathways and woodland surrounding the site are maintained by Forestry Commission Scotland and visitors to the centre will be able to enjoy direct access to this land. The facility will also be a short walk from the new £300m Forth Valley Royal Hospital and minutes from the public amenities in Larbert and Stenhousemuir.
The contract comes as Nord celebrates its 10th anniversary. Director, Alan Pert, said: “This is a fantastic way to celebrate 10 years and we look forward to working with the amazing team behind this network of centres.
“At a recent visit to the Maggies London Headquarters we came across a collection of architectural models of the various centres built over the years, including Richard Murphy's first one from 1996. It is an incredible achievement that so many of these buildings have been realised and to contribute to this vision is a huge privilege.”
The Forth Valley Maggie’s Centre is being built as a result of a grant from charity, Walk the Walk, which has raised cash through its MoonWalk Edinburgh event. This will be the second time the organisation has funded a new Maggie’s Centre after providing finance for the Gartnavel project in Glasgow, was opened last October.
Pert said the design time was hoping to create another landmark facility, which sits alongside the loch with views to the Ochil Hills and the Forth Valley.
Walk the Walk’s chief executive and founder, Nina Barough, said: “Walk the Walk is delighted that Nord has been chosen as the architects for Maggie’s Forth Valley centre and we all look forward to seeing the plans of what I know will be a beautiful, unique and ground-breaking building, while embracing the Maggie’s ethos and reflecting the care that this charity is renowned for. It is wonderful news and I feel very proud knowing that those affected by cancer in the Forth Valley will soon have a Maggie’s to turn to and that we helped to make it happen.”
Maggie’s Forth Valley is one of three new Maggie’s Centres currently in planning in Scotland.
Professor Fiona Mackenzie, Chief Executive of NHS Forth Valley, said: “This is very exciting news for Forth Valley. I have no doubt that Nord will design a distinctive Maggie’s Centre for the grounds of the new Forth Valley Royal Hospital, which will create a unique environment, to support the many hundreds of people from across Forth Valley who are treated for cancer every year”.
